Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the date for profiling commencement of construction of a school (details supplied) from Q3 2019 will be reconsidered in view of the fact that the design team has indicated that it may be ready to commence construction by late 2018 or Q1 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13172/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for planning permission, fire cert and disability access cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained.

A letter recently issued to the school and the design team outlining the projected timeframe for progression of this project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved.In that context, this school building project has been profiled to commence construction in Quarter 3 2019.  

The current status of this project is that it is expected to shortly complete stage 2(b) of the architectural planning process. This is the final stage of the design process for any school.The design team has indicated that it expects to complete and submit the stage 2(b) report for this project by end March 2018.  The review by the Department of the stage 2(b) report generally takes between 10 to 12 weeks.

Upon receipt and review of the stage 2(b) and providing no other issues arise it is projected that this project will be authorised to complete pre-qualification of contractors in Quarter 3 2018.

My Department has requested the design team to review the project programme taking into account the amended date for completion and submission of the stage 2(b) report and the steps and projected timeframes involved in moving this project to tender and construction stage.

My Department is fully committed to completing the project as soon as possible.